GCSE History (CIE)

Weimar and Nazi Germany Topic Summaries

Early challenges to the Weimar Republic (1919–1923)

Political challenges from Left and Right

Left-wing Right-wing

The Spartacist Revolution, January 1919:

  • The German Communist Party decided they wanted to take over Germany and attempted a revolution on 6 January 1919.
  • Led by Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg, the Spartacists seized newspaper and telegraph offices.
  • Within a week, Ebert and the Freikorps (right-wing ex-WWI soldiers) ended the rebellion and killed many communists, including the two leaders, but riots continued even after the revolution failed.

The Kapp Putsh, March 1920:

  • This was led by Dr. Wolfgang Kapp and the Freikorps who seized Berlin as a demonstration against the Treaty of Versailles. 
  • The government fled and organised trade union strikes to disrupt the Freikorps.
  • When the Weimar ministers returned, Kapp was imprisoned, and the Freikorps eventually fell apart.

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